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| Part-time workers 'trapped' in jobs with no chance of promotion | Part-time workers 'trapped' in jobs with no chance of promotion |
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| More than three quarters of part-time workers feel trapped in their jobs and unable to get promoted or find another flexible role that fits their skills, according to research. | More than three quarters of part-time workers feel trapped in their jobs and unable to get promoted or find another flexible role that fits their skills, according to research. |
| A quarter of Britons now work 30 hours or less, but a survey of 1,000 employees earning the equivalent of £20,000 to £100,000 a year suggests those who have opted to do shorter working weeks often "hit a wall" and see their careers stall. | A quarter of Britons now work 30 hours or less, but a survey of 1,000 employees earning the equivalent of £20,000 to £100,000 a year suggests those who have opted to do shorter working weeks often "hit a wall" and see their careers stall. |
| The research is included in a report by the Timewise Foundation, entitled The Flexibility Trap, published on Monday. | The research is included in a report by the Timewise Foundation, entitled The Flexibility Trap, published on Monday. |
| It said that only around 3% of UK job vacancies for part-time roles offered a pro-rata salary of £20,000 or more, and workers were being forced to lower their expectations when searching for work. | It said that only around 3% of UK job vacancies for part-time roles offered a pro-rata salary of £20,000 or more, and workers were being forced to lower their expectations when searching for work. |
| Seven in 10 of respondents said they had downgraded the salary and level of job they applied for, with the average salary sacrifice at £6,730. Employees with children expected to take home £436 less than those without. | Seven in 10 of respondents said they had downgraded the salary and level of job they applied for, with the average salary sacrifice at £6,730. Employees with children expected to take home £436 less than those without. |
| Almost three-quarters of those interviewed by researchers said they haven't been promoted since working part-time, with more than a fifth saying they wouldn't expect to be. Yet more than a quarter said they are overqualified for the part-time role they currently hold. | Almost three-quarters of those interviewed by researchers said they haven't been promoted since working part-time, with more than a fifth saying they wouldn't expect to be. Yet more than a quarter said they are overqualified for the part-time role they currently hold. |
| Almost all (99%) said they wished employers would make it clear when advertising a job whether it can be worked part-time or flexibly, and there was uncertainty about at when it was right to ask. | Almost all (99%) said they wished employers would make it clear when advertising a job whether it can be worked part-time or flexibly, and there was uncertainty about at when it was right to ask. |
| "Work in the UK is undergoing a fundamental shift," said Karen Mattison, co-founder of the Timewise Foundation, a business aimed at supporting part-time workers. Mattison added: "More than a quarter of UK workers are part-time or flexible, with most needing to fit their careers with something else in life. Yet millions are hitting a wall at key points in their careers, when they want to progress or move to a new role." | "Work in the UK is undergoing a fundamental shift," said Karen Mattison, co-founder of the Timewise Foundation, a business aimed at supporting part-time workers. Mattison added: "More than a quarter of UK workers are part-time or flexible, with most needing to fit their careers with something else in life. Yet millions are hitting a wall at key points in their careers, when they want to progress or move to a new role." |
| Jaya Patel, 37, has two children under the age of six. She felt that working part-time in banking litigation made it extremely difficult to get a promotion. "When I had my first child the firm was shocked, but good about it. Upon my return, I negotiated flexible hours, which meant leaving at 5.30pm, with one day a week off. I agreed to log back on at home and work when necessary, but this happened almost every night," she said | Jaya Patel, 37, has two children under the age of six. She felt that working part-time in banking litigation made it extremely difficult to get a promotion. "When I had my first child the firm was shocked, but good about it. Upon my return, I negotiated flexible hours, which meant leaving at 5.30pm, with one day a week off. I agreed to log back on at home and work when necessary, but this happened almost every night," she said |
| "Everything came to a head during my last appraisal. I was told that I needed to be seen pushing for counsel or partnership, and to achieve this I would need to spend at least four nights a week on marketing or business development." Patel eventually decided on a career change, which involved taking a large pay cut. "I'm enjoying it. But it's incredibly hard to find jobs that are openly part-time or flexible, from day one." | "Everything came to a head during my last appraisal. I was told that I needed to be seen pushing for counsel or partnership, and to achieve this I would need to spend at least four nights a week on marketing or business development." Patel eventually decided on a career change, which involved taking a large pay cut. "I'm enjoying it. But it's incredibly hard to find jobs that are openly part-time or flexible, from day one." |
| Elizabeth Gardiner, head of policy at Working Families, said: "It may be the easy option to offer a vacancy on the same basis as the last full-time job, but there is a business case for changing practice. Failing to advertise jobs as available on a part-time or flexible basis means employers are recruiting from a limited talent pool, and skilled part-time workers are less able to advance their careers." | Elizabeth Gardiner, head of policy at Working Families, said: "It may be the easy option to offer a vacancy on the same basis as the last full-time job, but there is a business case for changing practice. Failing to advertise jobs as available on a part-time or flexible basis means employers are recruiting from a limited talent pool, and skilled part-time workers are less able to advance their careers." |
| Gardiner said she wanted all jobs to be advertised on a flexible, part-time or job share basis, hoped employers would adopt a "happy to talk flexible working" strapline to include in job adverts. | Gardiner said she wanted all jobs to be advertised on a flexible, part-time or job share basis, hoped employers would adopt a "happy to talk flexible working" strapline to include in job adverts. |
| "Using the strapline would encourage employers to consider job design, signal their willingness to discuss outputs not hours, and give more employees the confidence to ask for a pattern of work that suits them," she said. | "Using the strapline would encourage employers to consider job design, signal their willingness to discuss outputs not hours, and give more employees the confidence to ask for a pattern of work that suits them," she said. |
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